Celanese converts coal-based boiler plant to gas-fired

Celanese Corporation has completed the conversion of its Narrows, Virginia, operation to natural gas-fired boilers. Celanese invested $150 million to replace its coal-fired boilers with natural gas to generate the steam needed to run the plant’s electrical generators and processes.
 
“The completion of this project is a concrete example of our commitment to carrying out two important Celanese core values – Being Sustainable and Improving the World. This is a milestone in Celanese’s continued growth and an opportunity for us to do our part to create a cleaner environment for the communities where we operate,” said Jon Mortimer, vice president of Manufacturing & Capital Projects, Celanese.
 
The Celanese Narrows plant has been in operation for 75 years. Celanese’s boiler equipment conversion project provided more than 300 jobs in Giles County during the duration of the project as well as the continued support of more than 1,000 existing jobs. The plant is one of the world’s largest producers of cellulose acetate tow, a natural and environmentally friendly product that is used for filtration applications.